Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-17

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In their advertising, businesses nowadays usually emphasise that their products are new in some way. Why is this? Do you think it is a positive or negative development?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 6.5)

Nowadays, many businesses are focusing on advertising their products as new or different. They usually highlight the new features of their products to attract more customers and compete with other companies. I think this development has both positive and negative sides, but it is mostly a positive development.

There are several reasons why businesses are doing this. Firstly, people are always interested in new things. When a company introduces a new product or adds some new features, customers become more curious about it. For example, mobile phone companies regularly introduce new models with better camera, battery and design. As a result, many people want to buy the latest model even though their old phone is still working properly. Secondly, companies need to compete with other businesses. If a company does not introduce anything new, customers may choose another company's product.

There are some positive effects of this trend. The main benefit is that companies try to improve their products because of competition. As a result, customers can get better quality products and new facilities. For example, smartphone companies are continuously developing better cameras, faster processors and more useful applications. This also helps the technology sector to develop faster.

However, there are also some negative effects of this development. Sometimes companies advertise a product as new, but there is not much difference between the new and old version. This can make customers spend money unnecessarily. Moreover, people can become more interested in buying new products instead of using their existing products for a longer time. It can increase unnecessary consumption and also create more waste.

In conclusion, businesses mainly advertise their products as new because they want to attract customers and compete with other companies. Although this trend can make people buy unnecessary products, it also encourages companies to improve their products. Therefore, I think it is a positive development overall.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully addresses all parts of the task by explaining why businesses emphasise that their products are new and discussing whether this is a positive or negative development. The writer establishes a clear position in the introduction ('it is mostly a positive development') and maintains it throughout the essay. Main ideas are relevant, such as consumer psychology, competitive pressure, and the environmental impact of consumerism. These ideas are supported with appropriate explanations and relevant examples, such as mobile phone companies introducing new models with better cameras. The development is logical and covers both sides of the issue adequately before concluding, fulfilling the requirements for Band 7.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay presents a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, moving from the introduction to the reasons for the trend, then to the positive effects, the negative effects, and finally the conclusion. Cohesive devices are used effectively to guide the reader, such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'As a result', 'However', and 'Moreover'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, separating the distinct arguments logically. Referencing is clear throughout the text, allowing for a smooth reading experience that aligns well with the descriptors for a Band 7 score.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common items and subject-related terms such as 'consumerism', 'unnecessary consumption', 'competitive pressure', and 'processors'. Word choice is generally appropriate, and meaning is communicated clearly. While there are a few slightly repetitive lexical choices (e.g., repeating 'new products' and 'businesses' frequently), the range is sufficient to allow flexibility and precision in places. Spelling and word formation are accurate throughout the response, supporting a solid Band 6 performance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms effectively. There is good control over complex structures containing subordinate clauses, such as 'When a company introduces a new product or adds some new features, customers become more curious about it' and 'Although this trend can make people buy unnecessary products, it also encourages companies to improve their products.' Grammar and punctuation are generally accurate, and errors are rare and non-systematic, meaning they never impede communication. The high proportion of error-free sentences lifts this criterion towards Band 7.

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